KOCHI:
The Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC) on Hazardous Wastes has asked the Travancore Titanium Products (TTP) in Thiruvananthapuram to submit a bank guarantee of Rs.5 crores in favour of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board for completion of all works related to hazardous waste management. The SCMC directive was issued on May 15. - Staff Reporter

Felicitation

KOZHIKODE:
At the South Indian cultural festival being organised by the Calicut University Union on June 16 and 17, actor Nedumudi Venu and sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman will be felicitated, the former for winning an international award and the latter for being awarded the Raja Ravi Varma Prize.  Special Correspondent

Akshaya invites applications

KOZHIKODE:
Those interested in becoming enterpreneurs of Akshaya should submit their applications before June 10. The application forms can be had from the nodal officer in offices of local bodies or from the Akshaya Project office. Applications can also be submitted on the website www.akshaya.net/swr. The district project office of Akshaya programme being implemented to spread computer literacy has started functioning on second floor of Zamorin's Square, CDA building, on Railway Station Link Road. Details can be had at: 0495- 2349014.  Special Correspondent

Office-bearers elected

KOZHIKODE:
K.P. Alavi has been elected president of the All India Passport Employees Association's, Kozhikode. The other office-bearers elected at a biannual meeting of the association are K. Madhusoodanan (secretary), C.P. Manoharan (vice-president), P. Mohanan (joint secretary) and P. Satheesh Kumar (councillor).  Special Correspondent

Anti-tobacco rally held

ALAPPUZHA:
The Indian Red Cross Society Alappuzha unit, members of National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and students of various schools in the town organised an anti-tobacco rally here on Thursday. The NCC commander Lt. Col. Sreekumar flagged off the rally.  Staff Reporter

IMA denies charge

PALAKKAD:
The district unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has denied the allegation that the bio-medical waste disposal plant functioning at Malampuzha is polluting the Malampuzha reservoir water and the environment of the area.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, K. Haridas, the IMA district president and Secretary of Indian Medical Association Goes Eco Friendly (IMAGE), said that the hospital bio-medical waste brought from six districts of the State was burned.  Staff Reporter

Office-bearers elected

KOZHIKODE:
K.P. Alavi has been elected president of the All India Passport Employees Association's, Kozhikode. The other office-bearers elected at a biannual meeting of the association are K. Madhusoodanan (secretary), C.P. Manoharan (vice-president), P. Mohanan (joint secretary) and P. Satheesh Kumar (councillor).  Special Correspondent

Award for NoRK writer

Thiruvananthapuram:
Abu Dhabi-based A.M. Mohammed's Nizhal Nilangal has been selected for the first Pravasi Sahitya Award 2005 instituted by the Department of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs to encourage literary activities among non-resident Keralites (NoRK). The award carries a purse of Rs. 25,000, certificate and statuette. A jury comprising T. Padmanabhan, Perumbadavom Sreedharan, Sugathakumari and M.R. Thamban selected the work from 13 entries which reached the last round. Mr. Mohammed is from Ochira in Kollam district. The Norka-ROOTS chairman, M.M. Hassan, said the award would be presented during the `Samavayam' being organised by Norka in August in the capital.  Staff Reporter

Dharna postponed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kerala Private College Teachers Association has postponed the dharna scheduled for June 4 in front of the Secretariat to protest against the move to deploy private college teachers in vocational higher secondary schools. This follows Education Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer's reported offer to take up the issue with the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister on the basis of various factors like retirement and those going on Faculty Improvement Programme. The offer was made during the talks he held with its representatives , Abdul Rasheed, Jory Mathai and C.K. Raju, in the presence of the Higher Education Secretary and the Director of Collegiate Education.  Special Correspondent